Cool Stuff Daily

Wed. 12/01 - Duolingo's Bizarre Sentences


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Why does Duolingo use such weird and sometimes deeply relatable phrases to teach its users new languages? Plus, the real science behind the much-hyped “first living robots that can now reproduce.” And the origins of the twelve days of Christmas. Like, the actual days. Not the song about turtle doves.

Sponsors:

  • Lendtable, Use code KOTTKE at Lendtable.com to get an extra $50 added to your Lendtable balance
  • Tentree, Use code KOTTKE to get 15% off at tentree.com

Links:

Why are Duolingo sentences so weird? (Slate)
  • ‘Amazing science’: researchers find xenobots can give rise to offspring (The Guardian)
  • Interesting research, but no, we don’t have living, reproducing robots (Ars Technica)
  • Bizarre Creatures Are World's First Self-Replicating 'Living Robots', Scientists Say (Science Alert)
  • Christmas: A Candid History by Bruce David Forbes
  • Jack's Countdown to Christmas (Instagram)
  • Kottke.Org
  • Jackson Bird on Twitter
  • See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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